Contributions
1,330 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVocational TrainingAt this time of year in particular, I am always keen to make the noble Baroness’s day. I assure her that I am reflecting hard on the good debates that we have had in Committee and…09 Dec 2024HANSARDChildren with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy Lords, as others have, I start by expressing my gratitude to the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser, for opening this important debate. Notwithstanding that this is my third…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesThat has not been drawn to my attention, but I am certainly willing to look into it and perhaps come back to the noble Lord.09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesUnder regulations, schools are expected to be open for 190 days, or 380 sessions, each year. As I suggested in my initial Answer, it is also important that there is local…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesI simply reiterate what I said: it is important that there is co-operation at a local level to cover the types of schools where parents might have a child in each, to ensure…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesMy noble friend is absolutely right: how well you do throughout the whole of the rest of your education is often determined very early on in your school life. That is why, last…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesThe noble Lord is absolutely right: if children are not in school, they cannot learn. Although levels of absenteeism are marginally better this year than last, they are still…09 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorYes, this Minister does recognise that, which is precisely why this Government, unlike the last Government, have taken action to put universities’ finances on a more sustainable…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorWell, I simply reiterate the point that it is important that this Government have gripped the issue of financial sustainability and have asked the OfS to focus on it. The OfS has…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorI can absolutely assure the noble Baroness that that was not the case, as I have said repeatedly in this House. But it is the case that the last Government’s freedom of speech…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorThe noble Lord is right that it is important that the graduate route visa has been protected. It allows international students, in the case of PhD graduates, to stay for an…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorIt is right that the Turing scheme funds UK students to engage internationally in all stages of education, but it is not the case that there are not also other forms of support,…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorMy noble friend is right in several of his comments, including that international students enrich our campuses and communities, form lifelong friendships, become global…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorMy Lords, this Government are committed to maintaining our world-leading higher education sector and promoting its attractiveness internationally. The Secretary of State for…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorIt is already the case that the earnings that come from international students’ contribution to universities are helping to subsidise the cost of domestic students. There is not a…04 Dec 2024HANSARDHigher Education SectorNo, I do not agree with the noble Baroness. In fact, the message that it sends is that this Government, unlike the last, are determined to ensure that we put universities on a…04 Dec 2024HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]I commit to providing to the Committee more detail about the process for transition and some reassurance, which I suspect I have not sufficiently provided, on how that will…26 Nov 2024HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]I went on at some length in my response to the previous set of amendments to spell out what the accountability mechanisms to both the public and Parliament will be for Skills…26 Nov 2024HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]My Lords, we have had a good discussion on this group of amendments about the importance of ensuring that there is both appropriate engagement across government and improved…26 Nov 2024HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [HL]My Lords, in speaking to amendments in this first group, I wholly recognise the point made by noble Lords that this is about the importance of accountability and reporting, and I…26 Nov 2024